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Mental Changes

05-21-2009, 04:43 AM

I've been living the PB for over a year now, and recently I've noticed some striking mental changes (not to mention physical ones). Specifically, although I've never been hot-tempered, I'm surprised at how calm I am throughout the whole day, no matter what happens. Even though I am calm, my tolerance for loud noise like you find in bars has gone way down. I am no longer interested in anything on TV unless it's educational or some kind of documentary. I also feel that I'm becoming re-sensitized to violence.

Has anyone else experienced things like this?

Then again, I will be 30 in a couple months. Maybe I'm just turning into an old man, or getting ready to be a "father."

I haven't followed a PB lifestyle long enough to say how much of a mellowing effect it has on me, although I can say my anxiety has certainly decreased.

However, pre PB, I had a change in my perceptions. I can't stand the BEEP of censored language from all the "reality" shows my wife watches. I can't stand the shows period. I hate the mentality of the people on those shows. I also became sensitive to swearing and to some extent violence as I got older.

One of my tests for a good band, was if it had an Explicit Lyrics sticker on its cover. Now, I judge a good band based on the skill of the artists within it.

Comment

I think it is hard to say whether a movement towards healthier living causes a positive change in mental health, or if a positive change in mental health leads to a healthier lifestyle. Surely the two are intertwined; an increase or decrease in one area generally accompanies a corresponging increase or decrease in the other. I suppose it is a "chicken-and-the-egg" scenario as to which is the initializing factor.

As someone who has been plagued by anxiety and addicitons throughout my life, I certainly have noticed a drastic reduction in panic, rage, and destructive appetites since ameliorating my eating and exercise habits. I do earnestly believe that following the PB has made a positive impact on my mental health. However, perhaps I was necessarily in the "right place" mentally to begin the transition. The preliminary desire to improve my quality of life (including mental health) was essential to my perseverence through the initial withdrawal and fatigue as my body realigned itself with a healthier lifestyle.

Comment

Primalchild-I definitely have noticed a difference in mentality as well. In addition to the positive changes you speak of, I noticed that when I am doing an IF, I am much more focused in school, the longer it has been since I've eaten, the more information I am able to absorb during lecture. I have pondered why that is so and the only conclusion I have come to is that my body is very alert in a sort of primal hunt mode. Since I haven't eaten in sometimes over a day, I am focused to "make the kill," or so my body thinks. I don't think it is related to you being on your way to being an "old man," LOL!

Comment

My father-in-law gave me some Damage Control pills to try a week ago. I definitely notice some unexpected 'mental' changes. Note that my diet and sleep remain the same as before.

I feel much more calm than before; less physically and mentally nervous. However, I also feel a little emotionally detached from people and things. On the other hand, from time to time I feel like I might cry, like a sad child.

My appetite is less too. I don't feel the need to overeat.

Overall, I'm not sure if these reactions are good or bad. I'm on the fence as to whether to continue taking the pills or not.

Jamie

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I've been noticing increasing discomfort in my Kidney regions (started yesterday, now more obvious today). I'm thinking that these pills may be too strong for me. Too bad, since I was digging the sense of calmness they brought.

Comment

I've been living the PB for over a year now, and recently I've noticed some striking mental changes (not to mention physical ones). Specifically, although I've never been hot-tempered, I'm surprised at how calm I am throughout the whole day, no matter what happens. Even though I am calm, my tolerance for loud noise like you find in bars has gone way down. I am no longer interested in anything on TV unless it's educational or some kind of documentary. I also feel that I'm becoming re-sensitized to violence.

Has anyone else experienced things like this?

Then again, I will be 30 in a couple months. Maybe I'm just turning into an old man, or getting ready to be a "father."

I experienced the same points you did.

Comment

These past few weeks I was working on a pretty serious and involved assignment, but I felt very calm.

For me that's a major change because I have problems. I have problems with depression, I have been suicidal in the past, I tend to be anxious, I also am hot-tempered and have anger problems...not violent ones, but just all the features of your classic "type-A" - neuroticism, perfectionism, free-floating hostility.

So, yeah, I've definitely noticed I seem to be in a better mindset since going Primal.

Comment

I used to feel anxiety quite often. When I started I was eating pretty much VLC all the time. Later on switched to LC and now I'm kind of low to moderate on the carbs (in the context of CW). Still have the same sense of well being and calmness, no matter what.

I have come to the conclusion that it's all due to the change in diet, maybe the elimination of grains? Not sure, but I certainly like it.

Comment

This was my first thought about the mechanism, but I'm sure it's part of the deal at most:

Originally posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin

Effects of food contentIn humans, serotonin levels are affected by diet. An increase in the ratio of tryptophan to phenylalanine and leucine will increase serotonin levels. Fruits with a good ratio include dates, papayas and bananas. Foods with a lower ratio inhibit the production of serotonin.[citation needed] Research also suggests eating a diet rich in carbohydrates and low in protein will increase serotonin by secreting insulin, which helps in amino acid competition.[15] However, increasing insulin for a long period may trigger the onset of insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and lower serotonin levels.[16][17] Muscles use many of the amino acids except tryptophan, allowing more muscular individuals to produce more serotonin.[18] Myoinositol, a carbocyclic polyol present in many foods, is known to play a role in serotonin modulation.[19]

[edit] In the digestive tract (emetic)

The Champagne of Beards

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I've always been a pretty mellow guy, but now I'm really mellow. I take a pretty relaxed approach to everything and just deal with life as it happens. With that being said, when the stress gets to be too much and I do fly off the handle, I REALLY FLY OFF THE FUCKING HANDLE! It doesn't happen very often at all, but it scares the hell out of my family, which scares the hell out of me.